Bass and Crappie at Raccoon???

[Jamison559]

My father and I are thinking about running out to Raccoon to do some fishing this weekend. Are the crappier or bass biting? If so, where should we start and what kind of baits? We usually don't fish this time of year, but I hear you can still catch good fish. So I have no clue of where to even start. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

James Ket

[Topwater2004]

Fishing conditions are extremely tough out there right now, on Cecil Harden Reservoir.

Last time I was there was over a month ago, catching bass off of rip rap with a small crank bait. It was a double-jointed Rapala Shad Rap- 1/4oz size or less I think. I had to use a spincast reel to throw it. It was all they would hit on.

Its been so cold, I would think they have moved off the rip rap by now.

[bfbob62]

Crappie and bass were biting good before the lake went up a couple of feet two weeks ago. Haven't been since. The crappie and bass were running a little small. Most crappie were in the 9" - 9 1/2" range and almost all of the bass I caught were shorts. The crappie were caught in the 12' - 15' depth around stumps and brush piles and all of the bass I caught were on wacky worms along the bottom of the rip rap. Was at Patoka last weekend and the bass were still shallow down there with the water temperature at 57 degrees.